what ho

what ho

1. (Commonwealth, UK, Ireland, informal, dated) An exclamation of greeting, summons, or surprise.

   What ho, Frobisher!

   • 1817 May 5, Lord Byron, “Letter CCLXXVIL To Mr. Murray.”, in Thomas Moore, editor, Letters and Journals of Lord Byron: With Notices of His Life, […], volume II, London: John Murray, […], published 1830, →OCLC, page 23:

     The Count’s in danger,—what ho! there! approach!

   • 1912 February 6 (date written), [George] Bernard Shaw, “Androcles and the Lion”, in Androcles and the Lion, Overruled, Pygmalion, London: Constable and Company, published 1916, →OCLC, Act II, page 44:

     What ho, there! All who are within hearing, return without fear. Caesar has tamed the lion.

   • 1920 April 10 – August 28, Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, The Little Warrior [Jill the Reckless], New York, N.Y.: George H[enry] Doran Company, published 8 October 1920, →OCLC, page 152:

     " […] in he came, and I said ‘Oh, what ho!' and introduced Wally Mason. […] "

   • 1991 September, Stephen Fry, chapter 1, in The Liar, London: Heinemann, →ISBN, section I, page 18:

     ‘What ho!’ said Adrian, getting up to shut the door. ‘Treasons, strategems and spoils.’